Uncorked Ontario

RED WINE

HENRY OF PELHAM RESERVE
PINOT NOIR 2007
VQA Niagara Peninsula

Another exceptional wine from the great 2007 vintage, this reserve Pinot from Henry of Pelham shows classic, almost Burgundian aromas of cherry, beetroot, and raspberry, plus hints of clove and tobacco. This lovely, long-finishing wine is a good match for pork liver pâté, grilled tuna or salmon, and game bird.
268391 (D) 750 mL $24.95

WHITE WINE

INNISKILLIN WINEMAKER’S SERIES
TWO VINEYARDS RIESLING 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula

Enjoy this racy wonder with planked salmon or grilled prawns.
TASTING NOTE: Straw-lime colour with an aromatic bouquet of grapefruit and honey with a floral grace note. Light to medium-bodied, off-dry with a spicy (almost Gewurztraminer-like) flavour of grapefruit and tangerine. Good tension between sweetness and balancing acidity. Score: 89 (Tony Aspler, A Wine Lover’s Diary, April 20, 2010)
105387 (MD) 750 mL $17.95

ROSÉ WINE

TAWSE SKETCHES OF NIAGARA
ROSÉ 2009
VQA Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTE: Produced from a blend of fairly equal quantities of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot, this is a lovely rosé with ripe berry flavours and aromas – cherry and raspberry – along with underlying notes of mineral and graphite. It’s light-medium bodied with a crisp texture and a refreshing fruit-filled finish. Scrumptious on its own, pair with pizza or spicy Italian sausage. Score: HHHHJ (Susan Desjardins, WineCuurent.com May 1, 2010)
172643 (D) 750 mL $14.95

What a great idea. I do hope the Muscedere’s do this again.

On Sunday afternoon Wanda and I ventured over to Muscedere Vineyards for a couple reasons. They were releasing their new vintage white wines and they were offering grilled pizza on their backyard patio.

Sure Wanda and I enjoying visiting wineries to sample their new wines and to buy a few bottles to bring home and enjoy at a later date but what we did today was different, enjoyable, and I hope that the Muscedere’s continue to offer pizza on the patio.

Chef Shawn Newmaster from Il Cavallino Bistro (Windsor) prepared tasty grilled pizza on the BBQ’ed. I never would have guessed that BBQ’ed pizza could taste so good. Wanda and I sat outside on Muscere’s patio, ate some pizza, had a glass of wine and chatted with members of the Muscere family. It was a wonderful way to spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon.

When I suggested that they should do this every weekend Fabio Muscedere said they are experimenting and will consider doing this more often if there is enough demand.

The other reason we visited the winery was to sample their new vintage wine wines. They are fantastic this year. We tasted the 2009 Vidal Blanc, 2009 Riesling, 2008 Sauvignon Blanc and the 2009 Rose.

The 2009 Vidal Blanc is a must try. The tropical nose and mango taste were so unusual for this area one would think this was a hot climate wine. 2009 was a cool summer, so I asked Rob Muscedere were this taste comes from. Rob stated that the low yields and hand harvesting of the grapes allows for only the highest quality grapes to make it into the wine. The lower yields allows each grape to ripen to reach it’s full potential. The result is an incredible white wine (2010 All Canadian Award Winner by the way).

The Muscedere’s have been making excellent wines now for several years. Add pizza and a sunny weekend afternoon to the list as another reason to visit the winery.

Gary Killops

It’s the annual SWOVA event at Muscedere’s Vineyard’s this weekend that caught my attention. I think I will pay a visit to their winery this weekend as they announced that they will release their new white wine releases.

I also have to try their pizza! Here are the details:

June 5 & 6
11:00am – 3:00pm

Join us on the patio, where Chef Shawn Newmaster from Il Cavallino Bistro will be preparing:

Lunch
Muscedere Grilled Pizza – $5.00

Available Styles
Cheese
Vegetarian

Dessert
Homemade Gelato – $3.00

Available Flavours
Organic Raspberry-Peach
Limoncello
Bacio (chocolate & hazelnut)
Strawberry

It’s hot today, thank goodness the humidity is not that bad. Here in Southwest Ontario we have been under a heat wave for May. Temperatures have been much higher than normal, crops are at least two weeks ahead of schedule and it isn’t even officially summer yet.

I was outside cutting our lawn a little while ago and thinking about what wine I should open with our BBQ dinner this evening. I kept thinking this is beeer weather, and taste great when it is this hot.

Wine is good but sometimes beer is better.

WHITE WINE

FIELDING ESTATE WINERY
UNOAKED CHARDONNAY 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTE: This is great unoaked Chardonnay: lots of pure fruit character, minerality, and fine balance. Abounds with attractive ripe apple, pear, citrus and stony mineral notes on the nose. Crisp and mediumfull bodied, with a seam of acidity keeping the fruit in elegant harmony all the way through on the long, lip-smacking finish. Savour with lightly buttered lobster, or apple-lacquered pork kebabs with apricots. (VINTAGES panel, April 2010)
164491 (D) 750 mL $15.95

HENRY OF PELHAM RESERVE OFF-DRY
RIESLING 2008
VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTE: Letting the grapes hang on the vine adds to the sweetness of this beguiling riesling. But there’s a fine natural acidity to balance the sugars. Aromas and flavours show jasmine, ginger, apple and peaches elements. Pretty stuff. Score: 89+ (Gordon Stimmell, The Toronto Star, March 13, 2010)
557165 (MD) 750 mL $15.95

INNISKILLIN WINEMAKER’S SERIES
THREE VINEYARDS CHARDONNAY 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula

Rick VanSickle in The Standard (St. Catharines) gave this wine a rating of HHHHK.
TASTING NOTE: Straw coloured with a green tint. A nose of apple and vanilla oak with hint of forest floor. Medium-bodied, Burgundian-style, dry, apple peach and pineapple flavours nicely dressed in spicy oak; lovely mouth feel and lingering flavours. Score: 90 (Tony Aspler, tonyaspler.com, A Wine Lover’s Diary, April 20, 2010)
105379 (XD) 750 mL $16.95

REIF ESTATE
CHENIN BLANC 2008
VQA Niagara River

Chenin Blanc is a little-known and often underappreciated grape variety. It’s best known as the great white grape of France’s Loire Valley. At Reif, the grapes underwent cold-controlled slow fermentation in stainless steel tanks to highlight the grape’s innate fruit characteristics and to maintain its excellent acidity.
TASTING NOTE: Another unusual offering from Reif. A nose of melon and tropical fruit. It’s juicy and vibrant on the palate showing an array of ripe fruits in a completely dry style. Think delicate white fish to go with this wonderful wine. Score: HHHHK (Rick VanSickle, stcatharinesstandard.ca, Undated)
172411 (D) 750 mL $18.95

STRATUS RIESLING 2008
VQA Niagara Peninsula

TASTING NOTE: A refined Riesling with pretty aromas of grapefruit and peach in harmony. The laser sharp acidity of the vintage hits the palate with a juicy, mouth-watering citrus blast. This wine will improve with time in the cellar. (Rick VanSickle, stcatharinesstandard.ca, Undated)
131011 (D) 750 mL $29.20

RED WINE

HENRY OF PELHAM
CABERNET FRANC ICEWINE 2008
VQA Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula

Fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks, this rich and expressive Icewine is full of strawberry and red cherry aromas and flavours. The producer suggests matching this wine with fruit-based desserts. Also makes a lovely sipper, nicely chilled.
672402 (S) 200 mL $39.95

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Support of a Digital Ultrasound System for ICU, Windsor Regional Hospital.
5:00 – 9:00 pm
Dinner at 6:00 pm

Dinner by To Your Kitchen Gourmet Cuisine by Jeff Wright
Erie Shore Vineyard Pavilion

$25/person – BBQ Meal and 1 glass of Wine

Silent Auction
Entertainment by Victoriouss Productions DJ Service

Tickets available at Erie Shore Vineyard
Cary Bedard, ICU x52787 or
Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation Office x 52656

Colchester Ridge Estate Winery is pleased to invite you to our 4th Annual Vintage Release and BBQ on Saturday June 26th from 2 till 7pm. The event will be held at the winery itself, at 108 County Rd 50 E, Harrow. Join the festivities and enjoy wine tastings, live jazz and blues by the Eccentric Band, and BBQ by Chef Jeff. Tickets are $45 each with silent auction proceeds going to charity and wine by the glass will be served for $5. CREW will also be featuring new releases including; 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, 2009 Gewurztraminer, 2009 Chardonnay, 2009 Riesling, 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 Cabernet Franc and a 2008 Merlot. Come discover your new summer wine!

Advance ticket sales only, please call 519-738-9800.

We look forward to seeing you!

Becky Allan,
Sales Representative.

CREW – Colchester Ridge Estate Winery
Tel: 519-738-9800
info@colchesterridge.com
www.colchesterridge.com

Although medal count is down this year compared to last year more GOLD and DOUBLE awards were handed out to several local wineries at the 2010 All Canadian Wine Championships. The ACWC was established in 1981 and is Canada’s oldest wine awards.

Wineries from seven provinces participated at this year’s competition. British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Price Edward Island and New Brunswick.

Eight wineries in Southwestern Ontario (Lake Erie North Shore and Pelee Island) were awarded a total of 18 medals including 4 double gold and 4 gold.

4 – DOUBLE GOLD
4 – GOLD
4 – SILVER
6 – BRONZE
18 total

Pelee Island Winery
2009 Blanc de Blanc – DOUBLE GOLD
2008 Late Harvest Vidal – GOLD
Chardonnay Unoaked – GOLD
2008 Cabernet- Merlot – SILVER
208 Baco Noir – SILVER
2008 Riesling Dry – BRONZE
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon – BRONZE

Black Bear Farm Estate Winery
2008 Elderberry – DOUBLE GOLD
2008 Golden Plum – Silver
2008 Red Raspberry & Purple Plum – BRONZE

Aleksander Estate Winery
2008 Chambourcin – DOUBLE GOLD
2008 Baco Noir – GOLD

D’Angelo Winery
Dolce Vita – DOUBLE GOLD

Sanson Estate Winery
2007 Syrah – GOLD

Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery
2007 Meritage – SILVER
2009 Riesling – BRONZE

Mastronardi Estate Winery
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon – BRONZE

Muscedere Vineyards
2009 Vidal Blanc – BRONZE